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Olympic fun: make the Olympic Torch

The Olympic Games doesn't have to be all about sports – it can also be just as fun with Olympic-themed crafts. Throw your own Olympics after making an Olympic Torch with your child, and then take it for a run at the park (slow-motion "Chariots of Fire" style of course).

Number of players:

2

What you need:

1 large takeaway coffee cup

50cm piece of dowel ($2.70 from Bunnings)

1 can of aluminium spray paint ($3.80 from Bunnings)

1 piece of box cardboard for spare parts

craft knife

hot glue gun

orange cellophane (for the Olympic Flame)

Activity:

You could celebrate the Olympics by making a modern torch with the tube from a roll of plastic wrap. Simply spray paint it then stick some cellophane in the end for a flame. But we decided to make it a bit more interesting with a 1948 Olympic Torch.

Watch the video below to see how you can make a vintage 1948 Olympic Torch.

Start by cutting about 5cm off the bottom of a takeaway coffee cup.

Use the bottom half to make the cup of the Olympic Torch. Criss-cross the centre of the base to thread the dowel through.

Use the spare cardboard to trace out a circle that matches the base of the coffee cup. This will be the little disc detail under the main flame cup.

Make a criss-cross cut it in the centre of your 'torch', then put some hot glue on the centre and push the dowel through, leaving about 4cm coming out the top.

Now thread the top end of the dowel through the base of the coffee cup. Hot glue it in place.

Spray paint your Olympic Torch all silver.

Bunch up half a sheet of cellophane and secure it in the middle with masking tape. Stick that in the top of your torch cup and use the hot glue gun to hold it in place.

Now take your torch for a run in the park. Practise passing it forward relay-style. Get your kids to run in slow-motion before they pass the torch for extra Olympic fun.